Oral Genome, a leader in oral and systemic health innovation and known for its rapid Oral Health Saliva Test, has been named a finalist in the prestigious 2025 Pepperdine Graziadio Most Fundable Companies competition. Out of more than 2,300 early stage startups from across the US, Oral Genome is among the top 26 companies recognized for its market opportunity, innovation, and leadership.
Now in its 8th year, Pepperdine’s Most Fundable Companies program identifies startups that demonstrate exceptional promise and investor readiness. Finalists were selected based on rigorous evaluation of financial projections, intellectual property, competitive advantage, and management expertise.
“This recognition affirms Oral Genome’s mission to make preventive oral and whole-body health testing accessible for everyone,” said Dr. Tina Saw, CEO of Oral Genome. “By harnessing cutting-edge technology, we’re shaping the future of medicine to be not only innovative but also inclusive and practical for patients and providers alike.”
Oral Genome’s rapid point-of-care saliva test delivers actionable oral health insights in just 15 minutes—empowering individuals and healthcare providers to take proactive steps toward better overall wellness.
The full list of winners and finalists can be found at Pepperdine Graziadio’s Most Fundable Companies 2025 showcase.
About Oral Genome
Oral Genome is a health technology company pioneering saliva-based testing for oral and systemic health. Its mission is to advance preventive care by making testing fast, accessible, and impactful for all.
DataJoint, a computational database that uses AI, is designed to streamline data management and accelerate research in neuroscience, oncology, and systems biology. It raised $4.9 million for its Seed funding round. Nina Capital in Barcelona and Inoca Capital Partners in Salt Lake City, and Austin-based Capital Factory co-led the round. Existing investors also took part in the Seed round.
The company also recently joined the ninth cohort of PharmStars, a pharma-focused global accelerator for digital health startups.
The new funding will help DataJoint to scale its operations, enhance its proprietary SaaS platform, and expand its market reach to commercial life sciences and pharmaceutical companies in the United States and in Europe, according to a press release.
To learn more, click here.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Life Science Hub launched Ocean State Labs, the state’s first life science incubator to support and accelerate the growth of innovative companies in the life sciences sector, according to a press release. The incubator will function as a hub for entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors, providing the infrastructure and community needed to turn breakthrough ideas into transformative solutions. Portal Innovations, a venture development firm that specializes in incubating early-stage companies, will manage Ocean State Labs. The incubator is slated to open in Providence next year, in partnership with Brown University, and will provide more than 30,000 square feet of office and lab space and host up to 30 startup companies.
The members include:
- MindImmune Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease.
- OncoLux Inc., a medtech company developing advanced optical imaging and AI technology to improve surgical procedures in the field of oncology.
- P53 Therapeutics, pursuing a new class of small molecule therapeutics designed to overcome p53 tumor suppressor mutations in cancer.
- Pax Therapeutics, advancing gene-delivery technologies to optimize healing of tendon and ligament injuries.
- XM Therapeutics, developing tissue repair and regeneration platforms for chronic disorders.
To learn more, click here.
Health Wildcatters recently announced members of its 13th cohort. They include:
PrecisionHealth TPA (Frisco, Texas): Led by Craig Herndon, the company is reinventing self-funded healthcare with technology-driven operations, transparent pricing, and scalable recurring revenue.
YU.SH (Milan, Italy | Dubai, UAE): Founded by Pietro Allegretti, YU.SH merges fashion and health tech with luxury heels equipped with smart insoles that boost wellness through electrostimulation.
Vaccinity, Inc. (Fort Worth, Texas): Founded by Paul Evans, Vaccinity is building a decentralized patient EHR with AI-powered clinical trial matching to expand access and equity.
Latica Med Ltd. (Ra’anana, Israel): Eduard Papirov is pioneering non-invasive acoustic technology designed to improve fertility outcomes by enhancing endometrial receptivity and healing.
Pumpinheart Limited (Galway, Ireland): Founded by Donald Hickey, Pumpinheart is developing a transcatheter implantable pump for advanced heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), addressing an unmet need affecting millions.
NearWave (Austin, Texas): Founded by Roy Stillwell, NearWave has created optical imaging systems that help physicians non-invasively identify the best therapy for breast cancer patients within a week.
Pollen Sense (Salt Lake City, Utah): Pollen Sense, co-founded by Kris Klein and David Noel, delivers real-time, high-resolution airborne particle insights through a deep-tech platform with transformative applications across health, research, and industry.
SelfSense Technologies (Galway, Ireland): Founded by David Townley, SelfSense has developed an AI-powered SmartSplint that monitors bite force in real time to prevent dental implant failures and optimize treatment outcomes.
HarmonIQ Biosciences Inc. (Austin, Texas): Founded by Mario Sierra, HarmonIQ is pioneering the world’s first continuous hormone monitoring (CHM) platform—“the Dexcom of hormones”—to deliver real-time hormone data and AI-driven insights that transform fertility care, menopause management, testosterone optimization, and endocrine research.
Sequest Bio (Boston, Massachusetts): Sequest Bio, founded by Ashkan Novin, leverages biopsies, RNA-sequencing, and live metastasis assays to generate predictive models that provide oncologists with earlier, more accurate insights into how cancer will progress.
PowerPercept (Dallas, Texas): Led by Avinash Srinivasan, PowerPercept is a health technology company developing smart insoles that provide real-time insights to help prevent injuries and accelerate rehabilitation.
Photo: Urupong, Getty Images